From the Editor

Recently I read Tom Valeo’s interesting article, “Choosing To Be Happy” where he introduced seven strategies for happiness. They included things like cultivating gratitude, fostering forgiveness, fostering friendship, etc. The one that caught my eye was “Engage in a Meaningful Activity.” He quoted psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: “People are seldom happier than when they’re in the ‘flow’. This is a state in which your mind becomes thoroughly absorbed in a meaningful task that challenges your abilities. It requires an initial investment of attention before it begins to be enjoyable.” How glad I am that I am a needleworker! Yes, it does require work, concentration and sometimes determination. Often I stitch too late into the night until my neck and shoulders hurt. But, it always makes my heart happy and makes me know that I am doing something worthwhile. I often wonder what it is about that little tapestry needle that calms my soul after a busy day. The conclusion of the article states that happiness can be a matter of choice and not just luck. I know that you feel the very same way and love to stitch as much as I. Folks can spot us anywhere since we will be the ones wearing the biggest smiles.

I know you will have fun with Carole Lake’s delightful cover project, Four-Way Florentine Frame. It is a most versatile piece of stitchery. You can stitch it as presented and use it to frame a cherished memento such as an invitation, an announcement or even a photo. Or, you can stitch each motif individually for smaller projects such as ornaments, needle holders, name tags or greeting cards just to mention a few. Our readers are so creative that I know you will come up with even more ideas and wonderful ways to use this design.

Spring Green by Pat Van Cleve is not only a beautiful piece of needlepoint, but this lovely landscape is also a valuable art lesson on ways to achieve aerial perspective in our work as well as tips on mixing strands of thread for subtle shading.

Liz Morrow does it again! In this issue she offers a fun geometric design and gives us four different color palettes in her lovely Flowers of Color. These are so neat you will probably want to stitch all four of them.

Tricia Wilson Nguyen designs the beautiful Blooming Rose on perforated paper. This delightful little box will be great to have for yourself or to give for to a very special person.

Many of us exhibit our finished work in needlework shows in our own area and in national shows sponsored by various needlework groups and guilds. Many of you have written asking for information on the best way to present your work for such a show. We are honored to have Master Judge, Dolores Andrew, educate us with her words of wisdom. To learn more be sure to read From a Judge’s View.

I have often said that our devoted feature writers are the backbone of this magazine. They are all experts in their fields and unselfishly share a wealth of information. Please help me welcome a new feature writer, Judy Harper. I just love working with Judy because it makes me feel at home since she has been around the needlework world as long as I - since the “good old days.” Judy was educated in Interior Design and Architecture at the University of Texas. She designed the first Imari porcelain reproductions on needlepoint canvas way back in 1969. This led to her company, Creative Needle, which she started with Inge Wooley in 1973. Judy is no stranger to writing about needlework and authored a newspaper column, Creative Woman, which was featured in several newspapers. This became syndicated and was known as Traditional American Crafts and Needlework. I know you will be inspired by her introductory column named Possibilities.

Be sure to stop and take a few minutes to smell the roses.

– Joyce Lukomski

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Last Updated June 27, 2007